Laurel, DE June 23, 2006 – U.S. Senator Tom Carper, Congressman Mike Castle, and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott visited the Laurel Library to announce more than $30,000 in federal grant funds that will help pay for furniture to support the recently completed expansion project. "Libraries are a great resource for our communities, providing a place to congregate, share, and learn," said Senator Carper. "I am encouraged that the Laurel Library is continuing in that tradition but that it is also working to meet the demands of a growing 21^st century with free internet access and access to electronic resources. I am pleased that the USDA has provided funding for such a worthwhile cause."

The library held an open house on May 20^th to showcase their new state-of-the-art facility and today the federal officials got a personal tour to see the library in action. "Libraries are crucial to any community, for adults and children looking to learn and expand their worlds," said Congressman Castle. "With this new furniture for the beautifully renovated facilities here at Laurel, I hope that more local residents will be enticed to come and utilize all that the Laurel library has to offer such as the new meeting rooms and computers. I am extremely pleased to be involved in this funding announcement today for the improvement of an important community asset."

The library tripled in size and now supports approximately 22,000 square feet of space that provides a genealogy section, meeting rooms, access to computers and much more. "Community libraries are the heart of small town excellence," said Elliott. "They offer an environment that nurtures learning for all who walk through their doors. What we do at USDA Rural Development is to help improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunity in rural America, what better way to return the people’s money than to strengthen a community library."

The Laurel library is one of more than 15 community libraries in the State. "The library is quite a change," said Ed Ralph, President of the Laurel Public Library Board of Commissioners. "It is three and a half times the space we originally had, and thanks to the community we have not had to obtain a loan; we are $25,000 away from reaching our fund raising goal. We are especially appreciative of this grant from USDA Rural Development for furniture and other items for which the State could not cost share in." The library hours are Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

USDA Rural Development has over 40 programs that involve homeownership opportunities, rental housing, home repair, business development, community facilities and community infrastructure. Last year, the agency returned more than $33 million to rural Delaware. To learn more about the agency and the programs that they offer, visit their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov or call their local office located in Georgetown at (302) 856-3990, ext. 4.